St Mary's Collegiate Church, Haddington facts for kids
The Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Church of Scotland parish church in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland.
This amazing church started being built way back in 1380! It's been added to and rebuilt many times since then. It's the longest church in Scotland, stretching 206 feet (about 63 meters) from one end to the other. It's built in an early Gothic style, which means it has tall arches and big windows.
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What Does St Mary's Church Look Like?
The church is shaped like a cross (this is called cruciform) and sits in a big open churchyard. It's quite far from the town center. The church is so big it looks like it could be a cathedral! Its design is very consistent, meaning it looks like it was all built following the same clear plan.
After some damage in the 1500s, the main part of the church (the nave) and the tower were fixed up for people to use. The whole church got a big makeover in the 1970s.
The Choir: Where the Singers Stand
The choir is the part of the church where the singers or clergy usually sit. It has aisles and is divided into four sections by strong supports called buttresses. The windows have cool stone patterns called tracery. Look closely and you might spot an angel playing the bagpipe carved into one of the decorations! On the north side of the choir, there's an old room called a sacristy. It's now a special chapel and a burial place for the Maitland family.
The Tower and Side Wings (Transepts)
The transepts are the parts of the church that stick out like arms, making it cross-shaped. They have big windows at their ends. The north transept now has modern toilets and stairs. The south transept has a memorial for George Seton and a beautiful stained glass window designed by Edward Burne-Jones.
There's a small chapel called the Lauderdale Aisle near the north transept. It remembers John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane and other members of the Maitland family. A spiral staircase in this area leads up to the tower. The tower is square and has three tall, narrow windows on each side. You can also see single statues in little alcoves next to the windows. The top of the tower has decorative carvings and gargoyles. It looks like there might have been plans to build a fancy crown-shaped spire on top, like the ones on St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The nave is the main part of the church where the congregation sits. It's similar to the choir with four sections on each side, supported by buttresses. The windows here are like those in the transepts. In 1811, the side aisles were made taller by about 10 feet and given decorative tops that look like castle walls.
The front of the church, facing west, has a huge window with six main sections. Below this big window is the main entrance. The doorway is divided into two by a central pillar, which has carvings of the Arma Christi (symbols related to Jesus's crucifixion).
Inside the Church: What to See
Inside, the church has amazing arched ceilings called sexpartite vaulting. The pulpit (where the minister preaches) and the font (where baptisms happen) were both designed by a sculptor named William Birnie Rhind in 1891.
In one of the aisles, you can see an old sculpture of Haddington's town crest. It was found during the 1970s restoration. There's also a memorial to William Seton, a former leader of Haddington, from 1682.
The church got a new pipe organ in 1990. The church tower was silent for a long time, since 1548, when the English army took away its three bells. But in 1999, the church got a new set of eight bells! These bells were originally made to celebrate the coronation of King George V in 1911. They were installed and dedicated in 1999, bringing sound back to the tower.
A Look Back: History of St Mary's
Early Days of Christianity in Haddington
Haddington was a very important town in Scotland during the High Middle Ages (around 1000-1300 AD). It was one of the first towns to be given special rights by the king. Records show a church in Haddington as early as 1139! King David I of Scotland gave the monks of St Andrews Cathedral Priory money from this church. This early church was probably built where the choir of the current church stands today.
Later, in the late 1100s, a large Abbey (a type of monastery) was founded in Haddington by Ada de Warenne for a group of Cistercian Nuns. There were also other religious groups in Haddington, including Dominican monks and places for travelers and sick people.
The "Burnt Candlemas" Event
Because Haddington was so important, it was attacked and burned twice by the English in the 1200s. In 1356, Edward III of England invaded Scotland. This event became known as the "Burnt Candlemas" because it happened around Candlemas (February 2nd). Edward's army spent ten days in Haddington, burning most of the town, including a famous Franciscan church known as the "Lamp of Lothian." His army also burned Edinburgh and other places.
John Knox and the Reformation
John Knox, a very important figure in Scottish history, is thought to have been born near St Mary's Church around 1514. He trained to be a priest at St Mary's. Later, he became a tutor and supported George Wishart, another important religious reformer.
In January 1547, Wishart preached two services at St Mary's, with Knox standing guard below the pulpit, holding a large sword! While there's no record of Knox himself preaching there, it's likely he did, especially since he was ordained a priest there and received money from the church.
Building the Kirk o' St Mary
By 1380, the people of Haddington had recovered enough to start building a new church. The building of St Mary's Church took almost a century! It was officially opened around 1410, and the main structure was finished in 1462.
Who is the Minister?
The current minister of St Mary's Church is The Reverend Alison McDonald. She started her role in July 2019.
People Buried at St Mary's
Many notable people are buried at St Mary's Church, including:
- Jane Welsh Carlyle (1801–1866), a famous writer's wife.
- Rev John Brown (1722-1787), a theologian.
- Very Rev John Cook (1807-1874), a church leader.
- Members of the Maitland family, including John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale (1616–1682).
- The Earls of Wemyss.
- Artists like Mary Davidson RSW (1855-1950) and Robert Buchan (artist) (1756-1837).
- Architects like Francis Farquharson (architect) (1805-1878) and his sons.
- Editors, surgeons, and local leaders.
